NS Class 1600
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 Railion 1612 at Amersfoort |
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| Power type | Electric |
|---|---|
| Builder | Alsthom-Atlantique, MTE Creusot-Loire |
| Build date | 1981-1983 |
| Total production | 58 |
| AAR wheel arr. | Bo-Bo |
| Gauge | 1435 mm |
| Length | 17.60 m |
| Locomotive weight | 83 t |
| Electric system(s) | 1500V DC |
| Curent collection method | Pantograph |
| Top speed | 180 km/h |
| Power output | 4540 kW |
| Tractive effort | 260 kN |
| Career | Railion Nederland, NS Reizigers |
| Class | 1600/1800 |
| Number in class | 1600=23, 1800=34 |
| Number | In the ranges 1601-1622, 1823-1824, 1625, 1826-1858 |
| Disposition | Active |
The NS Class 1600 is a type of B-B electric locomotive built by Alsthom between 1980 and 1983 based on the SNCF Class BB 7200, and in use by the Dutch Railways since 1981.
The Class 1600 was ordered in 1978, after several types of locomotives were tested in the 1970s. One of those was the SNCF BB 7200, on which the 1600 is based. The 58 locomotives were delivered between 1981 and 1983. As a result of their appearance, the old Class 1000 and Class 1500 units were taken out of service.
Thanks to the electronic power control, these locomotives were not only the most economical but also the most powerful locomotives that Dutch Railways had.
[edit] Renumbering from 1600 to 1800
When in 1999 the cargo section became a separate company (Railion), the locomotives that moved over to Railion kept their old number (1601-1637). Loco 1637 was repainted red as an advertisement for the Dutch brewery Heineken. The locomotives that went to NS-Reizigers (1638-1658) had their numbers raised by 200, thus keeping their number but now in the 1800 series. In later years a number of 1600 loco's where sold to NS-Reizigers and subsequently renumbered to the 1800 series, retaining the last 2 digits of their number. Loco 1838 was involved in a heavy but non-fatal traincrash at Amsterdam Central Station in 2005 and due to the extensive damage later scrapped.
The later Class 1700 are similar but not entirely equal to the 1600/1800. Some of the Class 1700 has automatic couplers (so they can quickly couple the DD-AR double-decker trains they are used for), which is missing on the 1600/1800 (which have never been used for these trains). The Class 1700 is a modernised version, is heavier then the 1600/1800 and has different (i.e. more modern) systems for braking and Automatische Trein Beinvloeding ATB (Automatic Train Control).
Currently, Railion Nederland is looking to replace the 1600 loco's with new multi-current loco's type BR 189 from Germany. At the moment none of these are permitted to run in the Netherlands, so for the time being the 1600 series will remain in freight service.
[edit] Names
Various locomotives carry the names & crests of Dutch towns and cities.
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[edit] External links
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